Unfiltered Wine Club, August 2024

"Moving on to Spain, our next wine is made by Cellar Frisach in the Terra Alta region of Catalonia (northeastern corner of the country). Made from 60% Garnacha (or Grenache as it's known in France and elsewhere) and 40% Cariñena (or Carignan), the winemaker chose to co-ferment the grapes; not only is this a cuvée specific choice to be made, but these grapes ripened simultaneously and were therefore ready to be fermented at the same time. The wine fermented in underground cement vats that the winemaker’s grandparents built, and they moved the must (the crushed unfermented grape seeds, skins, stems, and juice) bucket by bucket where it was pressed and then again transferred to the next vat for fermentation. This wine tastes like Fall, which as we all have seen looks like it may come early this year (fine by me!). It’s on the lighter end of medium bodied and is clean in  texture with notes of mulberries, red fruits, and vegetal and baking spices. I think this wine shines with a slight chill, say maybe 30 minutes in the fridge, and would be excellent with cheese and cured meats, also roasted chicken, duck, fish, and all the quinoa, lentils, black rice, mushrooms, and grilled vegetables you’d dream to eat."